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Charles W. Morgan ready to roll

Workers at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard lift an extension ladder into place on the starboard side after rolling the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington. On Wednesday the ship will be rolled the 200-feet onto the shiplift and be lowered partway into the water to begin the process of swelling the planking to render the hull watertight.

Workers at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard gather for a group photo as they take a lunch break from rolling the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington.

Quentin Snediker, left, Director of the H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport, along with shipwright Dean Seder, right, watch the progress as workers crank on hand winches to roll the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington.

Shipwright Dean Seder watches as workers at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard roll the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington.

Shipwright John Day checks the progress of the final cradle wheel to roll into place as workers at the H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport crank on hand winches to roll the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington.

Shipwright Maggie Wright moves among the bracing timbers and chains looking for any loose debris that could fall and jam the rollers as the crew at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard prepare to roll the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington.

Quentin Snediker, right, Director of the H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at Mystic Seaport, and seaport lead rigger Matt Otto, talk as they watch workers crank on hand winches to roll the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington.

Shipwright Maggie Wright, kneeling, takes her turn on one of the four hand winches being used to roll the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 at the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard in Stonington.

Workers from the Mystic Seaport H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard gather for lunch in the seaport galley as they take a lunch break from rolling the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan the 50-feet from the side-track rails onto the main shiplift rails system as part of the two-step process to return the ship to the waters of the Mystic River Monday, June 24, 2013 in Stonington.